Eating Healthy During the Holidays

The holiday season is that wonderful time of year when we get to spend time with our families, travel, and create memories with friends and loved ones.

While it is easy to get lost in the fun, the holidays can also mean big meals with tons of calories. Large meals coupled with weather that can lessen the desire to get outside and be active can lead to a period of unhealthiness for many. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the holidays without compromising your health.

• Don’t overeat – This one sounds simple, but people tend to eat way more than they normally do during holiday meals. Using a smaller plate, filling your plate with vegetables and salad, and waiting at least 10 minutes before going back for seconds to see if you’re actually hungry can all help prevent overeating.
• Don’t skip meals – Many of us skip eating during the day as a way to prepare for a big holiday meal. While these people believe they are smartly making room for a lot of food, in reality they are encouraging themselves to overeat. It is especially important to have breakfast, as research shows that people who eat breakfast tend to consume fewer calories throughout the day. Eating fiber-rich foods that are high in volume and will satisfy hunger, but won’t overload you with calories.
• Get some physical activity – Just had a big, satisfying meal? This is a perfect time to go for a walk or do something else active you enjoy doing. Physical activity is a great way to offset a higher calorie intake, or a slice (or two!) of pie.

At ISL communities, our Elevate culinary program creates meaningful connections through cuisine, transforming the dining experience into a celebration that inspires the engagement of our residents, families and friends. It all starts with making sure we are preparing the healthiest, most nourishing food possible.

As our mission implies, we don’t want to merely put food in front of our residents, but connect with them in impactful ways through cuisine.

Elevate addresses not only our residents’ palates, but their desire for purpose, recognition of a lifetime of memories, lifelong growth and learning opportunities, and occasions to showcase their individuality through their own culinary signature items.

To learn more about our Elevate culinary program and everything else ISL communities have to offer, please give us a call or come take a tour. You may also visit our Communities page to find the community closest to you.

We hope everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season – just make sure you are more focused on spreading joy than you are spreading butter!